I continue to adjust to, and generally enjoy, a new rhythm of life here in DC. One dramatic daily difference is row house living. We inhabit a narrow two-floor flat with shared, windowless walls on both sides. Our front porch is the sidewalk, and the postage stamp "backyard" consists of a pleasant shared deck and a small brick pad ringed by untended planting beds. While I miss the space and view of home, it is nice to be free of the yard work. It is also liberating to be without a car. We walk a lot more, including to a cluster of shops and restaurants about four blocks away, and we take the metro for longer excursions, such as today's great outing to the zoo. Part of the Smithsonian system, the National Zoo occupies the southern part of Rock Creek Park (an oasis of nature in this city). It has some terrific naturalistic exhibits, such as a "lemur island," and it is always free. Some highlights from today were the Mexican wolves, a pair of browsing gibbons, and a surprisingly upclose and unmediated-by-bars encounter with an exploratory Dusky titi monkey in the Amazonia house (my photo above). There is also a series of towers connected by ropes via which the orangutans can traverse from one building to another! A thrilling prospect, but not a feat that we got to witness today.Find of the week: the National Geographic Society's warehouse sale!
Missed opportunity of the week: the Library of Congress staff's benefit book sale. I can only imagine what that group might have donated from their book shelves!
Movie seen: Pirate Radio - a fun treat, especially since it wasn't what we set out to see (see below).
Movie missed: Skin - still on the list.
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